Moil severing method and apparatus



May 5, 1970 J. E. PANczNER MOIL SEVERING METHOD AND APPARATUS 2sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 196'? ATFOQM QQS May 5, 1970 J. E. PANczNERMOIL SEVERING METHOD AND APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1967INVENTOR. JAmEQ EPANczNf-:Q

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A-rm im @JQ United States Patent O 3,510,287 MOIL SEVERING METHOD ANDAPPARATUS James E. Panczner, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens- Illinois,Inc., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 606,979Int. Cl. C0311 33/08 U.S. Cl. 65-113 14 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSUREThe invention disclosed provides a method and apparatus for handlinghollow glassware through a thermal severing device. The glassware isbrought to and through the severing device in a horizontal, linear path.The thermal unit for severing an end moil or trim portion of theglassware from the article is arranged in an elongated or linear arrayparallel with the linear path for the glassware. The glassware issupported by a chuck at its base or end opposite the moil portion,gripped and carried inverted through the linear thermal unit at thedesired elevation to define the moil cut-off line annularly of theglassware. The article is rotated axially while it is simultaneouslyadvanced through the thermal unit. A severed moil section of the wareresults upon sufficient narrow-band heating of the rotated ware and thesevered glass falls vertically and below the thermal unit. The thermalunit embodiment is a pair of parallel, opposed, sharp edge bladeelectrodes energized by high voltage, high frequency electrical sourcemeans. Air directed to the moil cut-olf line prevents an ionized airlayer from forming due to air breakdown in the electrical arc.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for severing the moilfrom glass articles, such as beakers, tumblers, etc., which articles areformed in the wellknown paste mold process of glass forming. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus forhandling a plurality of glass articles through a moil severing processinvolving the use of high frequency, high voltage current as thesevering means.

The present invention provides an arrangement for handling glasswarewith the moil portion down, wherein the glassware is rotated about itsvertical axis while simultaneously therewith it is moved laterallythrough the moil severing operation. The moil severing operationinvolves applying to the line of severance a ame or other means forproducing a heated band extending circumferentially about the glassware.Glassware with the heated band is then moved into a zone between atleast a pair of opposed, blade electrodes energized by a spark gapgenerator to apply a high (radio) frequency current at a voltage between10,000 and 15,000 volts whereby current will pass through the heatedband resulting in the separation of the moil from the rest of thearticle. To avoid the commonly produced layer of ionized gas surroundingthe article at the line of severance, which layer might carry themajority of the current flow between the electrodes and prevent thecurrent from effectively heating the glass, applicant provides an airjet arrangement for interrupting the ionized gas layer. In order tosever the moil from a plurality of glass articles, a plurality of bladeelectrodes serially arranged are provided with each pair of electrodesbeing connected to its own individual spark gap generator.

It has been the practice in the past to sever the moil from the articleby the use of gas fired burners, with the glassware rotated within theinuence of the burners until the glass is softened sufficiently topermit separation of the moil from the glass article. This method ofsevering the moil is slow from the standpoint that it is necessary forthe glass to absorb the radiant, impinging heat and to conduct the heatwithin the body of the glass at the severing line until such time as theglass becomes soft and melted to the extent that separation occurs.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus forsevering the moil from a glass article by the use of a high frequency,high voltage current source.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for severing the moil from a glass article which is rapid andcapable of high speed operation Without distortion of the glass article.

vIt is a further object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for severing the moil from glass articles in which a pluralityof articles are individually conveyed through a severing zone in seriesutilizing a plurality of serially arranged, blade-type, pairs ofelectrodes.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of the apparatus of theinvention particularly illustrating the severing zone;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of one of the ware handling members ordollies of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken generally at line 3-3 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one of the blade electrodes of FIG. 1, onan enlarged scale.

With particular reference to FIG. 1, the apparatus of the invention isschematically shown and comprises a pair of tracks 10 and 11 which arecontinuous and describe a pair of horizontally disposed, spaced-apart,oval paths illustrated by the dot-dash line.

These tracks, as shown in section in FIG. 2, are

channel-shaped with the channel opening upward to provide guidingsurfaces for ware handling members, generally designated 12. Each of thehandling members or dollies 12 is comprised of a central, vertical shaft13, which shaft 13 is rotatably supported within a cast bushing 14. Thelower end of the shaft 13 is provided with a three-fingered spring clip15, with the fingers thereof extending radially at generally spacing andadapted to frictionally retain the ware or article W to be carriedthrough the moil severing operation.

As is clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ware is held by the springclip 15 at its bottom, with the axis of the ware being vertical. Withthis arrangement, the moil portion of the ware will be positioneddownward so that upon completion of the severing of the moil from theware, the moil may drop vertically by gravity and be discarded.

Each of the castings 14 is provided with a pair of radially extendingbosses 16 and 17. Each of the lbosses 16 and 17 is provided with ahorizontal opening through which extend a pair of horizontal shafts 18and 19. Each of the shafts 18 and 19 is provided with a pair of wheels,with the wheels 20 and 21 carried by the shaft 18 and wheels 22 and 23carried by the shaft 19. The wheels 20, 21, 22 and 23 are adapted toride within the channel formed in the tracks 10 and 11 and effectivelyguide the movement of the ware handling mechanism in a path defined bythe tracks 10 and 11.

At the upper end of the shaft 13, there is provided va pinion 24 xed tothe upper end of the shaft for the purpose of providing a driveconnection between the pinion and shaft. As can be seen when viewingFIGS. 2 and 3, the upper end of the shaft 13 is provided with a verticalpassage 25 extending downward from the upper end thereof to a crosspassage 26. The cross passage 26 opens into an annular, relieved area 27in the side of the shaft and a sleeve '28 surounds the shaft andeffectively covers the relieved area 27. The sleeve 28 is provided witha pair of passages 29 and 30 'extending radially therefrom Patented May5, 1970 to which are joined a pair of pipes 31 and 32 respectively. Bothof the pipes 31 and 32 extend outwardly beyond the diameter of the wareand are then turned downwardly with their lower ends 33 and 34 bentinwardly so as to be directed toward diametrically opposed points on theside of the ware slightly above the line of severance 35.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the shafts 18 and 19 may actually be fixed tothe bosses 16 and 17 with each of the wheels 20, 21, 22 and 23 beingprovided with bearings so as to be freely rotatable with respect to theshafts.

The pipes 31 and 32, with their bent ends 33 and 34, are adapted toconvey air under pressure and to direct the air to impinge on the sidesof the ware W at points slightly above the line of severance 35. Thisimpingement of air is provided so as to physically interrupt any layerof ionized gas which may be formed about the circumference of the warein the area of the line of severance. It should be understood that whena high frequency, high voltage discharge takes place, ionization of theair frequently occurs, with the highly ionized air forming theconductive path for the electric current offering less resistance toflow of current than the hot glass. Because of this, the current may beprevented from entering the glass and heating it -by resistance tocurrent flow. In order to avoid this, the air pipes are provided so asto interrupt this ionized gas layer circumferentially surrounding thearticle at the line of severance 35.

The air is supplied to the pipes 31 and 32 through the passage 25 in theshaft 13 from an air manifold 36. As indicated in FIG. 1, the airmani-fold 36 extends horizontally in line with the plurality of thedollies positioned in the severing portion of the apparatus. The airmanifold, as best shown in FIG. 2, has a longitudinal slot 37 openingdownward and provides the means of communicating the air supplied to themanifold by a pipe 38 with the passage 25 in the shaft 13.

As can readily be seen when viewing FIG. 1, there are a plurality ofdollies 12 linked together by rings 39 which pass through small bosses40 provided on each of the radial bosses 16 and 17. These rings 39accurately space the dollies with respect to each other and provide therequired relative motion between the dollies so that they maycircumnavigate the tracks 10 and 11.

The dollies are moved at a constant speed through the mechanismillustrated in FIG. l by a motor 40- carried by one of the dollies andhaving the output of the motor drive a belt 41 which in turn drives apulley 42 connected to the shaft 19 of the one dolly to rotate the shaftand drive the wheels fixed thereto. In this manner the entire train ofdollies may be driven at a preselected constant speed around the tracks10 and 11.

As previously indicated, it is necessary that the ware be rotated aboutits vertical axis during the flame heating of the ware to form theconductive band at the line of severance, and it is also necessary thatthe ware be rotated during its movement between the electrodes. Thisrotary movement is imparted to the ware supporting shaft 13 byengagement of the pinion 24 with a stationary rack 43 mounted above andextending parallel to the line of movement of the dollies 12. As thedollies are moved from left to right, as viewed in FIG. l, the pinion 24engages the rack 43 resulting in rotation of the ware, it beingunderstood that only the shaft 13 turns, with the sleeve 28 and the castbushing 14 remaining stationary with respect to this rotation.

The severing zone illustrated in FIG. 1, consists first of a pair of gasfired yburners 44 and 45 which produce a pair of opposed narrow sheetsof flame extending throughout the length of the burners. The flames willimpinge on the ware at the preselected line of severance to effectivelyproduce a band of heated glass at the line of severance. It is necessarythat the glass be heated so that an electrically conducting path will beformed in the glass at the preselected line of severance.

As previously indicated, the ware is rotated so that the heat isuniformly applied to the ware as it passes between the burners 44 and45. After passing between the burners, and while the ware is stillrotated, the dollies will carry the ware between a first pair of opposedblade-type electrodes 46 and 47. These blades are connected to aconventional arc-type high frequency voltage generator (not shown).

As the ware enters the space between the electrodes 46 and 47, theheated band thereon provides a conductive path for the current to flowfrom one blade to the other, with the current flowing through the glassitself with the hottest portion of the glass serving as the path o-fleast resistance. If the ware were held in the zone or area between theblades 46 and 47 for a sufficient time, complete severance of the moilfrom the ware would be accomplished. However, in order to provide anarrangement for severing a plurality of pieces of ware successively atrelatively high speeds, it has -been found necessary to divide the bladeelectrodes, which would be much longer in length, into a plurality ofsegments or individual pairs of electrodes 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54and 55.

In actual practice and for high speed operation, the blades are eachapproximately five inches in length and separated `by a three quartersof an inch gap. The blades are set so that they present a gap ofone-fourth to threesixteenth of an inch between their edges and the wareto be severed. For convenience of mounting the blades on one side of apath of travel of the ware, are mounted in an insulating channel member56 and the complementary blades which are positioned at the oppositeside of the ware are mounted in a similar channel member 57 ofinsulating material.

As specifically shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of the bladeelectrode is such that one edge 58 is relatively square, while theopposite trailing edge 59 is rounded off. It should be pointed out thateach of the pairs of -blades which constitute an arc-producingarrangement, is supplied by its individual and separate high frequency,high voltage arc generator (not shown). The forward edges of the bladesare sharpened to a relatively thin knife-edge being formed of a`conductive metal oppositely bevelled to provide an included angle ofapproximately 30.

With the voltage applied to the pair of electrodes, for example 46 and47, entrance of a glass article, with the heated band thereon, into thegap will result in an arc breakdown or discharge with current flowingthrough the glass. The time that the article is 'between the electrodes46 and 47 is insufficient to accomplish complete severance vof the moil.The article will progress from between the electrodes 46 and 47 to aposition between the electrodes 48 and 49, then to the position betweenelectrodes 50 and S1 and ultimately to the position between theelectrodes 54 and 55, at which time there has been a sufficient currentflow through the glass to cause complete separation of the moil from thearticle. Obviously, if the article is moved through the severing zone atslower rates, the severing may occur at a position prior to the positionof the electrodes 54 and 55.

It has been found that if the blades of the electrodes do not have therounded trailing edge 59, arcing may occur -between adjacent electrodeson the same side, such as electrodes 46 and 48, with the glass servingas the conductive bridge between the electrodes. Applicant has foundthat by providing the rounded trailing edge, displacement of the arc outof the path normal to the path of the movement of the ware is prevented.

The voltage generators which are connected to each pair of electrodesare rated to produce a voltage of 10,000 to 15,000 volts at a frequencyin the range of 300 cycles per second to o-ne megacycle with a currentoutput of between 4 and 5 amps. RMS.

With the foregoing in view, it can be seen that applicant has provided amethod and apparatus for severing the moil from glass articles which iseffective to accomplish the severing of a large number of articles perunit of time. With the present apparatus and with the dimensionsmentioned, it is possible to sever articles at a rate in excess of 200pieces per minute.

It will be readily appreciated that after the severance of the moil fromthe ware, the ware may be easily removed from the apparatus, andarticles having the moil thereon may be loaded into the holderspreparatory to their movement through the severing operation.

While the above detailed description has been limited to the specificapparatus shown, it should be obvious that other apparatus for holdingand rotating the ware through the heat zone and high frequency fieldcould be used. For example, individual motors could be mounted on eachof the dollies, with the motors individually driving each spindle.Furthermore, the dollies themselves, instead of I being conveyed andguided on a pair of tracks, could -be moved by a rotating turret wherethe spindles or shafts 13 would be mounted at spaced, radial pointsabout the circumference of the turret.

I claim:

1. The method of severing a moil portion at the one end of 'a glassarticle comprising the steps of inverting the article with its centralaxis vertical, moving the inverted article with the moil lowermost in ahorizontal path, supporting the article from the top portion thereof ata distance sufiicient to permit unobstructive dropping of the moil bygravity when severed, directing heat toward the article by an elongatedheat energy source disposed parallel to said path at an elevationcorresponding to a moil cut-off line on the article whereat the moil andarticle are to be severed, said elongated source being in closely spacedproximity to the surface of the Iarticle as it 4moves in said path,rotating the inverted article about its central axis while moving thelatter in said path, thereby heating the glass circumferentially at themoil cut-off elevation, maintaining the heating of the glasssufficiently to effect thermal severing at the moil cut-off line,thereby allowing the cut-off moil portion to separate from the articlewhile in said path and fall below said heat energy source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the horizontal path is a linear pathextending through the elongated heat energy source, the latter beinglinear and substantially parallel with said path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of directing heat toward thearticle by an elongated heat energy source is carried out by a highvoltage, high frequency electric arc source.

4. The method of claim 3, further including the step of impinging astream of air onto the article outer surfa-ce substantially lat the moilcut-off line and at right angles to said electric arc heat source, saidstream of air interrupting any ionized gas layer around the moil cut-offline of the article resulting from breakdown of air during electric larcdischarges.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of highl voltage, highfrequency electric arc heating is carried out by simultaneously axiallyrotating and horizontally moving the inverted article between a pair oflinear, opposed, sharp edge blade electrodes.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of electric arc heating iscarried out by providing a plurality of blades in end-to-end relation onopposite sides of the article and individually energizing said blades bya high voltage, high frequency electrical source.

7. Apparatus for handling glassware in severing a moil end portionthereof comprising an endless movable carriage, means engaging thecarriage defining a closed path of movement for the latter, pluralrotary article chucks connected to said carriage for movement therewith,means connected to said carriage for driving the latter in said path,said chucks each including means for releasably engaging a piece ofglassware and for holding it by its end portion opposite said moil endwith the axis of tne glassware depending perpendicularly from the pathof said carriage with the moil end portion lowermost, said chuckssupporting said glassware at a height sufficient to permit unobstructeddropping of the moil by gravity when severed, the chucks moving in ahorizontal span of said closed path thereby holding the glassware in avertically inverted position, stationary horizontal guide means disposedalong said horizontal span, means on said chucks engaging said guidemeans for moving the glassware forward in a level fashion through saidhorizontal span, elongated linear glass burn-olf means supported alongsaid horizontal segment of the carriage path spaced laterally from theinverted glassware moving horizontally past said burn-off means whileheld by said chucks and disposed vertically with respect to saidglassware at predetermined height to define the moil severing line, andmeans engaging said chucks during their movement in said horizontalsegment of the carriage path for rotating the chucks and glassware,whereby the movement of the glassware along said horizontal segmenteffects severing the moil portion of the glassware and said severed moilseparates from the glassware by gravity.

8. The apparatus defined by claim 7, wherein the movable carriagecomprises a plurality of dollies, means connecting the dolliesend-to-end in chain-like fashion, the dollies including a pair of spacedtransverse shafts, rollers on opposite ends of the shafts, saidstationary horizontal guide means comprising a pair of horizontal,parallel, spaced-apart tracks, said rollers running on said tracksthereby guiding the horizontal span of movement of the chucks.

9. The apparatus defined by claim 7, wherein the means on said chucksreleasably engaging the glassware comprises a spindle rotatably mountedon said carriage, plural spaced-apart fingers connected to said spindledepending axially and engageable with the side of the glassware, thechuck including a base support for the glassware intermediate saidfingers, whereby the engagement of the fingers on the glassware seatsthe bottom of the latter against said support, a pinion connected tosaid shaft, and the means for rotating the chucks comprising a linearstationary member engaging said pinion of each chuck in movement throughsaid horizontal span rotating the prnion simultaneously with horizontalmovement of the chuck in said span.

10. The apparatus defined by claim 7, wherein said burn-off meanscomprises a pair of elongated horizontal heaters in facing, spaced-apartrelationship, opposed, spaced-apart, horizontal blade electrodesadjacent said heaters and disposed in the same horizontal plane, and asource of high frequency, high voltage current connected to saidelectrodes.

11. The apparatus defined by claim 10, including a source of air underpressure, a pair of air conducting pipes having one end in communicationwith said source of air, the other end of said pipes being directed toimpinge air on the ware at the line of severance of the moil from theware whereby said air pipes deliver streams of air obliquely to theplane of the severance line of the glassware to interrupt any ionizedgas layer formed by voltage discharge from the electrodes.

12. The apparatus defined by claim 10, wherein each blade electrode iscomprised of plural, spaced, end-to-end, blades having an inner facingedge bevelled to a sharp edge and the trailing corner thereof rounded toprevent interelectrode discharge during glassware movement from oneblade to the next blade.

13. Apparatus for handling glassware articles in severing a moil endportion and thereby form a mouth end thereon comprising an endlesschain-like carriage element, means engaging the carriage element guidingit in a closed path, plural article holding chucks rotatably connectedon said carriage element for movement therewith, means connected fordriving said carriage in said path, said chucks each including pluralfinger-like members extending axially of thechuck and reciprocatinglymovable toward and away from such axis for releasably engaging aglassware article thereby holding it by its bottom end portion with itscentral axis perpendicular to the carriage element with the moil endportion lowermost, said chucks supporting said glassware at a heightsuicient to permit unobstructed dropping of the moil by gravity whensevered, stationary horizontal guide means disposed along said path,means connected to said chucks and engaging said guide means formaintaining the glassware in an inverted vertical position and at apredetermined horizontal elevation, elongated linear glass burn-offmeans, means for supporting said burn-off means beneath said carriagepath along said guide means, the burn-olf means being supported therebyin closely spaced lateral position with respect to the moil portion ofthe inverted glassware article on said chucks, a source of thermalenergy connected to said burn-off means, the burn-off means applyingthermal energy onto the glassware articles at a moil severing line, andmeans engaging said chucks during their movement along said guide meansfor rotating the inverted glassware held thereby, the glassware havingthe moil portion thereof severed during its horizontal and rotarymovements along said burn-off means, the separated moil Aportion beingdiscarded by dropping below said burn-ofi? means.

14. The apparatus defined by claim 13, wherein the burn-off meanscomprises opposed, linear, horizontal, spaced-apart burn-ofi:` memberseach connected to said source of thermal energy and directing heat ontothe moil of the glassware from opposite sides thereof during movement ofthe inverted glassware between the burn-olf members, the separated moilof the glassware dropping by gravity from the space between saidburn-off elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,857,492 5/1932 Beatty 65-1132,068,799 1/1937 Guyer 65-115 2,383,113 8/1945 Dailey 65-284 X 2,644,2747/1953 Bailey 65-272 ARTHUR D. KELLOGG, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

